Naah, good try R7, but you won't convince han Ambrosini is good even if he's the last DM standing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Haha we always have primera players han can suggest who aren't guaranteed to mess up.

Yeah, I know many posters here who'd gladly turn Milan into Portsmouth if you know what I mean.

No Anto, Ambro or Zambro and we should be fine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

With all due respect, this is not 2008. In 2008 Rino and Ambro were still half decent, although already declining badly. Nowadays, Ambro just creates problems for us that just are not worth the trouble of having him in the team. Just because he has a DM label over his head does not mean that he's any good at it, or that he'll even provide us with defensive stability. He's more likely to cause instability. Why would you want 3 destroyers in a midfield where even our AM can be considered a hardman and a runner more than anything else?

We can't play any sort of football, not even counter-attacking football if our midfielders don't know what to do with the ball.

Congesting that midfield with DMs will only hinder our performance, and I'm not going to even write the usual "imo", because I am certain that this will occur. You talk about a team with no rotation and you want to start an Ambrosini who as had to play every three days lately, and made a mess of thing on all occasions. Not to mention that a midfield which contains both him and Van Bommel is simply not compatible, due to the fact that they're too aclike and tend to step on each other's toes.

If we want to win this thing, than playing guys like Ambrosini and Antonini should be the last thing we do.


Completely with you


I'd rather step in myself than let him ruin another game for us (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

What will convince you that Ambro is so way over the hill that he can't even see it anymore? Maybe him gifting another goal? This time a winner for Arsenal?

Maybe a little bit objectivity doesn't hurt. You see, you're talking about Ambro declining big time already in 2008, while in fact a year from then he played a few of his alltime best performances. I simply think you have a fixation on that guy and make him look even worse then he is.

Don't get me wrong, I know he declined nowadays, just as I know how good he once was. I know he isn't up to being a starter or do things he used to do for us. Still, he's a Milan captain and that earns him respect in my eyes. I don't find it hard to admit he isn't good any more, but I'm not gonna bash him over and over again just because I can.

Ambro being captain is essentially meaningless when it comes to performance. It doesn't magically make him a better player and he's not a leader in the mold of Maldini where his presence would really galvanized the squad.

Nah, han is 100% correct. Playing Ambrosini against Arsenal should be the last thing crossing Allegri's mind. The guy has made a mess of small-time opponents, no idea how he could fare against a powerhouse like Arsenal. And besides, what's the idea of playing an Ambro-MvB-Nocerino midfield? All muscle and zero brain. Definitely not the way to go in such important games. I'd rather have Seedorf there dictate the tempo, even though Clarence is no better than Ambro in terms of shape. Those 35 years starting to bulge methinks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

Looks like I'm in a minority. I want Ambro to play.

The only person who's more of a big-game player than Ambro is probably only Seedorf (in our current team). I have no delusions about his quality. He is not the kind of player we need when we need a lot of impetus from the mid-field...but he can hold things together really well. Knows every trick in the book, been there and done that. For me he is 10x the captain Gary Neville was.

Playing Ambro along with MvB would enable MvB to focus more on distribution while our third mid-fielder could focus almost completely on creativity. Plus he will guard our flanks letting the fullbacks push on.

And offensively, since it's Arsenal, how can you not have our set-piece heading specialist!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

But needless to say he is 'old' and he has played a lot. If he is not fit he cannot start. He will be terrible.

Yet, did I say anything about him being better as captain? I only said that's why I won't bash him.

Yet, did I say anything about him being better as captain? I only said that's why I won't bash him.

I don't think there's much problem in going with a hardworking midfield against Arsenal. Off the ball Arsenal really aren't very good, they don't close down particularly well, so luxury players aren't a necessity. Guys that can win the ball back are though.

I know Sagna is back for them, but not sure if Andre Santos is. If not, it'll likely be Mertersacker and Koscielny at CB together - Ibra will have them for breakfast.

Didnt metersacker injured himslef in the lasr game?

You could be right. Goal has a Sanga-Vermaelen-Koscielny-Gibbs back line.

Their fullbacks are average imo,yes,sagna is Ok but nothing special.Walcott can be handled,and he won't cause us problems asnlong as we aren't exposed to counter attacks too much.Van persie is my only real worry.